June 17, 2020 3:42 am
CANTON, Ohio (AP) – Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says it’s “highly unlikely” that crowds of 20,000 or so would be allowed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame game and induction ceremony in August.
DeWine says, “If the question was could that event occur today, the answer would be no. It would be extremely dangerous.” The hall is still evaluating its options and said no decisions have been made about the Aug. 6 game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium between the Steelers and Cowboys, nor for the enshrinements two nights later. The hall reopened to a limited number of fans last week.
June 17, 2020 3:46 am
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) – The Buffalo Sabres have fired general manager Jason Botterill in a dramatic change-of-course three weeks after co-owner Kim Pegula said his job was secure. The Sabres promoted senior vice president of business administration Kevyn Adams as Botterill’s successor. Botterill’s dismissal represents a major reversal for the Pegulas, coming three weeks after Kim Pegula told The Associated Press: “He’s our GM. Our plan is to continue with him.” Botterill was fired three seasons into his tenure and after the Sabres failed to show any signs of improvement in extending what’s now a nine-year playoff drought. With a 30-31-8 record, Buffalo finished 13th in the Eastern Conference standings and one spot short of qualifying for the NHL’s expanded 24-team playoff.
June 15, 2020 3:49 am
UNDATED (AP) – Major League Baseball appears headed to its shortest season since the 1870s. Baseball players have told the commissioner’s office that any more talks on starting the season would be pointless, and that owners should order a return to work. Union head Tony Clark said in a statement Saturday that “It’s time to get back to work. Tell us when and where.” The union’s action might lead to a season of about 50 games rather than the 82 initially proposed by MLB. The Major League Baseball Players Association could respond by filing a grievance that would be heard by arbitrator Mark Irvings, arguing players are owed hundreds of millions of dollars in damages due to a shorter season. MLB responded with a statement accusing the union of not negotiating in good faith and cited the March agreement that called for prorated salaries but did not obligate teams to play in empty ballparks. Clubs could file a grievance claiming the union did not meet its “good faith” obligation. Overall, this could spark lengthy litigation and could even prompt some star players to sit out.
September 11, 2019 3:48 am
Kyle Crick required season-ending surgery on the index finger of his pitching hand resulting from an injury sustained in a clubhouse altercation with fellow reliever Felipe Vazquez before Monday’s game, and the Pirates held a team meeting Tuesday. Both players were fined an undisclosed amount. Crick underwent a procedure Tuesday to repair the extensor tendon, performed by Dr. Scott Hanson in San Francisco. The club expects him to be ready for games come spring training. “The behavior exhibited by these two players last night is unacceptable, inconsistent with the standards expected of a major league player and will not be tolerated by the organization,” general manager Neal Huntington said. No other details of what happened were provided.
September 9, 2019 3:08 am
CLEVELAND (AP) – Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield had his right wrist wrapped after the Browns’ were rocked 43-13 by Tennessee in their opener. Mayfield appeared to get hurt Sunday when he was sacked for a safety in the first half by Cameron Wake. Following the game, Mayfield said “I’ll be all right” when asked if he had gotten injured. The second-year QB went for X-rays outside Cleveland’s locker room and then left FirstEnergy Stadium with his wrist heavily taped. Mayfield was intercepted three times in the fourth quarter, when the Titans scored 21 points and ran away from the Browns. Mayfield completed 25 of 38 passes for 285 yards and one touchdown. He wasn’t the only problem as the Browns were penalized 18 times for 182 yards. The Browns fell to 1-19-1 in season openers and disappointed a sellout crowd revved up by an offseason roster overhaul.
September 8, 2019 12:27 pm
The NFL season already is so unpredictable that Antonio Brown is a New England Patriot. No, he won’t suit up Sunday night when the Patriots host Brown’s former team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, from whom he forced a trade to Oakland in the offseason. He might be on the New England sideline at Gillette Stadium after seeking his release following a turmoil-filled few months with the Raiders. Brown had been scheduled to earn up to $50 million from Oakland over the three-year deal. Instead, the Patriots guaranteed the wide receiver $9 million this season, with the potential to earn as much as $15 million. Brown, a four-time All-Pro and one of the league’s most dynamic pass catcher, is not eligible to be officially signed until Monday.
September 7, 2019 4:01 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – When Buffalo coach Lance Leipold looks at Penn State’s roster, he sees a team that can attack in waves with few weaknesses. At least none jumped out when he watched No. 15 Penn State defeat Idaho a week ago. Penn State coach James Franklin says it is his deepest roster and it showed in the 79-7 win over the Vandals. Buffalo won 10 games and played in the MAC championship a year ago. The Bulls will offer a stiffer test on Saturday.
September 7, 2019 3:57 am
Burgettstown (2-0) scored on four of its first 5 possessions, rolling past Fort Cherry, handing the Rangers an 11th straight loss. Peters Township (3-0) beat Woodland Hills at the Wolverena. McGuffey (3-0) cruised past Frazier to stay on top of the Interstate Conference. California (3-0) shut out Avella. West Greene (3-0) kept pace with the Trojans, beating Chartiers-Houston. Jeff-Morgan blanked Mapletown to win its first game of the year. Waynesburg and Charleroi easily won non-conference games. Saturday afternoon, Wash High visits Summit Academy, the Little Prexies seeking to become just the fourth WPIAL team to win 700 games all-time. New Castle, Aliquippa and Jeannette are the other three.
September 5, 2019 2:52 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Bryan Reynolds’ two-run bloop single capped a three-run ninth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night. Elias Diaz started the winning rally with a leadoff homer against Jose Urena (4-8) that drew the Pirates within a run. Pinch-hitter Kevin Kramer then walked and went to third on Adam Frazier’s double before Reynolds flared a single into left-center to give the Pirates their fifth win in six games. Frazier and Reynolds both had two hits at the top of the order. Garrett Cooper’s two-run homer off Kyle Crick with two outs in the seventh put the Marlins ahead 5-3. Miami’s Starlin Castro had four hits, all for extra bases, as he homered and doubled three times. Cooper also had a double among his three hits. Wei-Chung Wang (2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth. Marlins rookie Robert Dugger was in line for his first major league win after allowing three runs – two earned – over six innings in his third career start. Pirates starter Trevor Williams basically matched Dugger’s line as he gave up three runs – two earned – and seven hits in six innings, though he had six strikeouts and one walk. Castro’s two-run homer in the fifth put Miami ahead 3-1. Pittsburgh tied it on Frazier’s run-scoring triple in the fifth and pinch-hitter Pablo Reyes’ RBI double in the sixth. Josh Bell drove in the Pirates’ first run with a first-inning single.
September 4, 2019 3:44 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Miguel Rojas hit a tying home run with two outs in the ninth inning and Garrett Cooper connected in the 10th as the Miami Marlins rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night, ending their franchise-record 15-game road losing streak. The Marlins were down to their final out when Rojas homered to center field off Felipe Vazquez, who had just his third blown save in 27 opportunities. Cooper’s home run, a 444-foot shot to left-center, came with one out off Parker Markel (0-1). Adam Conley (2-7) got the last out of the ninth when Pablo Reyes was thrown out at home while trying to score from second base on Adam Frazier’s infield single. Jose Urena pitched a perfect 10th for his first save of the season and second of his career. He was Miami’s opening day starter this year. Pittsburgh had gone in front in the eighth as Jason Martin scored on Jarlin Garcia’s wild pitch with two outs and the bases loaded. Frazier led off the first inning with a home run, drove in three runs and had three of the Pirates’ four hits. Pittsburgh lost for just the third time in 11 games. Miami All-Star Sandy Alcantara remained winless since June 21, a span of 12 starts, as he allowed four runs and three hits in seven-plus innings with seven strikeouts and four walks.
